“It’s OK,” Avant said assessing the vehicle’s amenities. “But it’s not like the Madden bus.”

Gruden could command a Madden Cruiser, an obscene salary and probably full control of personnel decisions if he left his $5 million per year ESPN gig and returned to coaching.

If the Eagles perform poorly when they take on the Carolina Panthers Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field, fans are going to be screaming for Gruden to do just that, at least when they’re not urging ownership to let go of Andy Reid.

Tirico is aware of the potential awkwardness. He’s been there before and as long as Gruden is the analyst, expects to be there again.

“It wouldn’t be the first or the last stadium it will happen in,” Tirico said. “I know Jon and Andy have been friends for a long time. I know he has a lot of respect for Andy and probably understands a lot better than most of the people talking about the situation that Andy is in.”

Tirico understands the frustration of Eagles fans and their passion to vent.

“You don’t know what the atmosphere in the stadium is going to be like,” Tirico said. “No. 1, how many people are going to be there? And then secondly, what’s going to be their reaction if the team plays poorly? The Philadelphia crowd has always made itself part of the story. You kind of just see what happens and react to it.”

It could be difficult focusing on the game as the Eagles (3-7) have lost six in a row and for the second straight week, start rookie Nick Foles at quarterback. Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy both are out with concussions. Rookie Bryce Brown will start at running back

The Panthers (2-8) also are in flux. They’re searching for a new full-time general manager. When all is said and done, head coach Ron Rivera could be searching for a job.

Then there is Gruden, the offensive coordinator of back-to-back Eagles playoff teams in 1995-96. Amid reports he’s contacted coaches to form a staff, don’t expect the ESPN telecast to focus on anything aside from the game.

“If we had before, we probably would have done it about 80 times in the last four years because every place we go if there’s a coaching situation, people bring up Jon’s name naturally because he’s a great coach and has won a Super Bowl and he’s not coaching,” Tirico said. “But he has said repeatedly that he’s enjoying doing what he’s doing. If I have any private conversations with him I won’t share them because his friendship trumps all the other things.

“Jon’s a big boy. He can speak for himself. But I’m pretty confident about this.”

If, by chance, conditions deteriorate Monday, the ESPN team will deal with that.

“I think I’m safe up in the press box,” Tirico said. “I don’t think I’m responsible for any of their anger here or the disappointing season. I’ll just do what I can.”

For the Panthers, defensive end Antwan Applewhite is out with an injured hamstring.

•••

The Eagles cut wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who had come back from a strained hamstring to sign Patriots castoff Greg Salas.

Don’t be surprised to see Salas on the field Monday. He can play the slot and on special teams.

“It didn’t have anything to do with Mardy as much as Salas,” Reid said. “We think he’s a good player and can help us. He’s a good inside route runner and also outside route runner. We just thought he’d help us.”

•••

Real.

That was Reid’s reaction to Nnamdi Asomugha’s declaration he hasn’t lived up to his own goals.

“Listen, if you talk to these guys individually they’re going to tell you that they want to do better,” Reid said. “Obviously nobody wants to play the way we’ve been playing. Nobody wants to coach the way we’ve been coaching. We don’t want that. We owe it to each other and we owe it to this city to play better. As long as guys own up to that, coaches and players, that’s the way you get better and then you work on the things that you’re not doing well. Get yourself right.”